Working time and wages represent two elementary components of economic welfare. Yet, in spite of both having witnessed signi
cant changes during recent decades, economists have expended far greater efforts on probing changes in the structure of wages than on exploring trends in the composition of working hours. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel for the period from 1984 to 2009, my thesis sets out to do three things:
firstly, to document recent changes in the distribution of hours; secondly, to describe the related trends in part-time employment; and thirdly, to elaborate on the interrelation between hours, wages, and incomes. My results show a protracted decline of average hours that materialises next to a growing diversication of working time between and within different groups of the labour market. I find a secular expansion of part-time work that has accomodated a surge of female
employment, and appealed to young and low-skilled workers alike. Due to a persistently high share of full-time work among men, male income inequality is extensively shaped by changes in the distribution of wages. Among women, where part-time arrangements are common, both hours and wages exert a commensurate impact on the distribution of incomes.
Restricting attention to full-time workers removes any variation of hours over time.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- An (inter-)national Perspective
- Data Description
- The Data Set
- Variable Specification
- Empirical Analysis
- Changes in the Workforce Composition
- Evolution of Weekly Working Hours
- Trends in Part-Time Employment
- Hours, Wages, and the Inequality of Incomes
- Discussion.
- Summary and Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis explores recent changes in the distribution of working hours in West Germany from 1984 to 2009, focusing on the impact on economic inequality. The study aims to:- Document shifts in the distribution of working hours.
- Analyze trends in part-time employment.
- Investigate the relationship between working hours, wages, and income inequality.
- Assess the influence of workforce composition changes on the distribution of hours.
- Evaluate the impact of changing trade union objectives on working time patterns.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by highlighting the historical context of working hour reductions in Germany and internationally. It underscores the importance of understanding working hours for economic welfare and inequality. The thesis aims to analyze changes in the distribution of hours, part-time employment, and the relationship between hours, wages, and income inequality.
- An (inter-)national Perspective: This chapter provides an overview of trends in working hours across industrialized countries. It explores the diversification of working hours and its implications for economic welfare and inequality. The chapter also discusses the changing landscape of employment, including the rise of non-standard work arrangements.
- Data Description: This chapter details the data set used in the thesis, the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP), and the specific variables employed in the analysis.
- Empirical Analysis: This chapter presents the empirical findings of the study. It examines changes in the workforce composition, the evolution of weekly working hours, trends in part-time employment, and the relationship between hours, wages, and income inequality.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This thesis focuses on key concepts like working hours, income inequality, part-time employment, and workforce composition. It examines the evolution of these elements in West Germany from 1984 to 2009, utilizing data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). The study explores the impact of demographic changes, trade union policies, and the emergence of non-standard work arrangements on the distribution of working hours and its relationship with income inequality.- Quote paper
- Benjamin Bruns (Author), 2013, All Things Being Equal?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/232028
